Plasma rifle (Doom Eternal)



The plasma rifle returns as a weapon in Doom Eternal, with a new design that draws heavily from the original plasma gun. It is first encountered in Exultia, after passing through the trans-dimensional portal. The overall function of the weapon appears to be unchanged from the previous game, firing small bright blue compact orbs of plasma at a rapid rate.

"Deals bonus damage to Energy Shields. Maximize damage potential by using at medium to close range."

- Doom Eternal dossier protip

Tactical analysis
The plasma rifle retains its minor splash damage on impact, and now features a new effect where enemies that are hit by several plasma orbs within a short time will explode in a burst of energy, like the Needler of the Halo series. While helpful against clustered enemies, this effect can be inconvenient if trying to go for a glory kill.

Energy shields like the ones used by the shield soldier and carcass will overload and explode if hit by plasma rifle fire, severely damaging the shield's user and damaging other enemies nearby. It can also disable the Doom hunter's body shield, exposing it to damage. However, it cannot affect the magical shields used by the arch-vile and the marauder.

The Microwave Beam mod for the plasma rifle is the only weapon in the player's arsenal that can eliminate a spirit, so it is important to keep it ready and stocked up with ammo when fighting a possessed demon.

Modifications

 * Heat Blast
 * The same as Heat Blast from Doom (2016), but now firing in a cone ahead of the gun rather than in a circle centered on the player; as before, it must be charged up by using the plasma rifle's standard fire. It has three levels of charge, designated by the color of the coolant sheath. At least one level of charge must be built up to fire the Heat Blast, with higher levels enhancing the damage of the Heat Blast.


 * Microwave Beam
 * Following a short charge-up time, fires a concentrated, short-ranged beam of plasma energy that locks onto and immobilizes an enemy, inflicting constant damage as long as the beam is maintained. Sufficient exposure to the beam will kill the enemy, causing it to explode and deal damage to others nearby. The explosion size is dependent on how large the slain enemy was. A health bar will appear below a monster that is currently being affected by the beam, giving an approximate sense as to how much time is needed to cause a death explosion. The spirit, which first appears in The Ancient Gods, Part One, requires use of the microwave beam mod to be destroyed after it has been separated from its host.

Heat Blast

 * Quick Fire
 * Firing delay after using the Heat Blast is reduced by 25%
 * Cost: 3 weapon points


 * Super Heated Rounds
 * Heat Blast charge per shot is increased by 25%
 * Cost: 6 weapon points.


 * Mastery - Power Surge
 * After triggering a fully charged Heat Blast, the plasma gun's projectiles will receive a damage boost for a short time

Microwave Beam

 * Faster Beam Charge
 * Microwave Beam charge time is reduced by 66%
 * Cost: 3 weapon points.


 * Increased Range
 * Microwave Beam targeting range is increased by 50%
 * Cost: 6 weapon points.


 * Mastery - Concussive Blast
 * Demons that are detonated by the Microwave Beam will trigger a concussive blast that falters nearby enemies.

Lore
A design by the UAC's military technology division, the plasma rifle is considered the standard for energy-based weaponry. It fires superheated plasma in short bursts.

Trivia

 * In the Mars Core level, the UAC guards are seen carrying plasma rifles. In the opening cutscene, despite already possessing one, the Doom Slayer takes a rifle from a guard that tries to block his path but is too intimidated to take any action.
 * The microwave beam has been significantly buffed through the update history of Doom Eternal, having received two separate decreases to the duration of use required to kill an enemy as well as an increase to the player's speed while it is in use.